[applause] we'll see you tomorrow on the alex trebek stage. so long. captioned by los angeles distribution and broadcasting, inc. right now on america this morning, free speech on social media. a federal judge on july 4th issues a ruling aimed at stopping the white house from trying to influence social media companies about the messages you see online. the legal battle and

what happens next. >> violent storms disrupt voting july 4th. holiday plans across the country. with more on the way today, what to expect and the historic conditions across the west. >> with mass shootings plaguing this holiday weekend, a gunman seemingly firing at random in a residential neighborhood, killing five people. a toddler is among those shot. a closer look at the surge in mass shootings and what's to blame? >> a developing story. cocaine reportedly found in the west wing of the white house. new video of sharks along the coast from florida to new york. >> several people suffering bites. plus, a deadly alligator attack in the south. >> and later, hear from the pro golfer who's seven months pregnant and still planning to compete in a major tournament this week. >> from abc news in new york, this is america this morning.

>> good wednesday morning, everyone. i'm rhiannon ally. and i'm lionel moise, in for andrew. >> we begin with a major development in a legal battle over free speech online. >> a federal judge has issued a rare decision on the july 4th holiday recess depicting how the government tries to influence social media companies. at issue is an effort by the white house to control misinformation. >> that effort triggered a lawsuit and now a judge is weighing in on this case. this morning, a federal judge in louisiana is limiting the biden administration from contacting social media companies. the judge saying the administration likely violated the first amendment when it pressured those companies to remove certain posts. the order comes as republican attorneys general in two states sued the administration, claiming it pressured sites like facebook, twitter and youtube to remove messages containing purported misinformation about covid 19 election security and other issues. covid misinformation. what's your message to platforms like facebook?

>> they're killing people. i mean, it really look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated. and that's and they're killing people. >> trump appointed judge terry doherty called the efforts by the biden administration orwellian, saying american citizens have the right to engage in free debate about significant issues affecting the country. the judge adding, it is quite telling that each example or category of suppressed speech was conservative in nature. the judge also issued a preliminary injunction barring top administration officials and several federal agencies, including the justice department , from having any contact with social media platforms for the purpose of encouraging the removal, deletion, suppression or reduction of content containing protected free speech . the decision appears to take effect immediately, but can still be appealed. >> the first amendment does not prevent the government from trying to persuade people to do

something, and the supreme court has explicit held over and over and over again that the government has a constitutional right to attempt to persuade you to behave in a particular way. but the power is still left with the social media platform forms. >> no response yet from the white house or the justice department. the judge is allowing the government to still communicate with tech companies about illegal activity and national security threats. well, the weather is making news this morning. >> severe storms from new england to denver flooding roads last night. several drivers had to be rescued and the heavy rain delayed or canceled. many holiday events. and today, the threat of severe storms moves across the plains and into the midwest from oklahoma all the way to chicago. meanwhile, extreme heat could set records in the pacific northwest today with triple digit temperatures across the west. and the heat extends to the east coast with feel-like temperatures topping 100 from texas to florida. we'll

get more forecast details coming up in just a few minutes. >> the suspect accused of randomly shooting into a philadelphia neighborhood killing five people and wounding two children faces a judge today. the holiday weekend has seen a wave of deadly mass shootings overnight. at least seven people were shot in washington, d.c. alone. the street violence part of a troubling trend growing worse over the last decade. here's abc's andrea fujii. >> this morning this surveillance video obtained by our station wpb appears to show the terrifying moments a gunman wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire at random in a residential neighborhood of philadelphia. he took my son. >> you took my baby? >> marie merritt's son was one of five victims killed monday night. the shooter also opening fire on a car driven by a woman with her two year old twins inside. one was shot and wounded. the other injured by flying glass. >> this armed and armored indian

will wreak havoc, firing with a rifle at their victims, seemingly at random shooting seven killing five of include shooting children. babies as the suspect who allegedly surrendered and was identified by sources as 40 year old kim brady carriker, whose previous run ins with the law include drug and gun charges. >> meanwhile, in fort worth, texas, three people were killed and eight wounded at a holiday event. police say multiple gunmen fired into a crowd after a dispute between rival groups. so far this year, the us has seen at least 348 mass shootings defined as having four or more victims injured or killed. that number has nearly tripled in the last decade. and experts say one factor is gun demand and therefore gun production has been steadily rising since the pandemic sick. one survey found 18% of american households bought a gun during the pandemic . police say the streets have been flooded with more weapons,

prompting more people to opt for gun fights instead of fist fights. as for the alleged shooter in philadelphia, police are still investigating a motive . the suspect is due in court today. rhiannon lionel andrew, thank you for that story. >> now developing story from washington where cocaine has reportedly been found at the white house in the west wing, prompting an investigation by the secret service. abc's justin finch is here now with details. justin, good morning. >> rhiannon good morning. powdery substance triggered a partial white house evacuation sunday and now we've learned it was identified as a cocaine like substance, as it was found in a work area inside the west wing where top administration officials work. president biden was not in washington at the time. the secret service releasing a statement saying the item was sent for further evaluation, action and investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the white house is pending at this time. we should note some white

house tour visitors are able to tour parts of the west wing and tours to take place on the weekends as well. the investigation continuing and further testing will be carried out. rhiannon >> all right, justin, thank you. >> a prisoner swap with russia may be in the works to free. wall street journal reporter evan gershkovitch. he is in jail in moscow accused of spying. the kremlin says it's been in contact with the us about a possible trade. the us ambassador to russia met with gershkovitch monday, breaking overnight. israel has now withdrawn un troops from the west bank, ending its biggest counterterrorism operation there in two decades. 13 palestinians were killed during that raid in retaliation, a man rammed his car into a crowd in tel aviv and began stabbing people. eight people were injured. >> and we turn now to a dramatic rescue on the side of a road. a sheriff's deputy with only moments to spare tries to pull a woman to safety as her car is engulfed in flames.

>> as you can see, all you give us an exact address. take your seatbelt off, ma'am. >> this morning, a woman in georgia, lucky to be alive after a quick thinking sheriff's deputy jumped into action, saving her from a burning car. sergeant ashley taylor responding to a crash on a highway in candler county with the car not visible from the road, taylor runs towards the smoke coming from the brush, finding the suv engulfed in smoke and flames. taylor smashes the window to reach the driver. get out! get out of the car! >> unlock it. get out! >> while pleading with the woman to remove her seatbelt, flames suddenly flare up from beneath the car. >> take your seatbelt off. come on. >> give me your hand. give me your hands. come on. after pulling the woman out, sergeant taylor goes back to the burning car, making sure no one else is inside. >> is there anybody in the car? no. i might have had information just on highway 46, with the help of some good samaritan ins, taylor drags her to safety.

>> police say the woman was having a medical emergency and is expected to fully recover. meanwhile in ohio, a similar dramatic rescue officers rushing to the scene of a crash near cleveland, finding a man unconscious at the wheel of this burning suv. they were able to remove him quickly and get him to safety. luckily, that man avoided any serious injury to. >> time now for a look at your wednesday weather. >> it's a back to work wednesday for many of us here across the lower 48. some hot weather from new york city to virginia beach . a good recovery day for the beaches there. meantime, we're stormy in the southeast today and in the midwest, we're watching for the threat for severe thunderstorm today and tonight from chicago all the way to denver, colorado, a repeat of the flooding we had a day ago could occur again. meantime, the extreme heat in the northwest is

going to be with us for the next couple of days. accuweather meteorologist kevin corcoran. >> coming up, a deadly alligator attack in the south. >> also ahead, was it a shoplifting bus gone wrong? the controversy video of a sheriff's deputy throwing a woman to the ground. >> and later, a costly mistake. the elite runner who took a wrong turn right before the finish line

shops and local charm. so will we be near you? >> we are back now with an unwanted visitor in pensacola beach, florida, right here. this shark had everyone heading for safety. just the latest of several recent sightings and in new york, look at this, a pod of around 50 sand sharks was spotted off of long island. five

suspected shark bites have been reported in that area in recent days. >> authorities in hilton head, south carolina, are investigating the second deadly alligator attack in less than a year. a 69 year old woman was killed while walking her dog. her body was found near a lagoon just two weeks ago. a gator ran after a fisherman in the same area. experts say alligator encounters are up because of more development near alligator habitats. >> now to southern california, where an encounter between sheriff's deputies and two people outside of a grocery store is under investigation. abc's alison kosik has the video. this morning, the los angeles county sheriff's department releasing this body camera video showing a deputy throwing a woman to the ground outside a grocery store. >> that manhandling me. >> i didn't do nothing. >> the department says deputies were responding to reports of a robbery in progress when they arrive. they confront the suspect, a man and a woman.

wait, wait. >> no, i'm not. no arrest. >> for what? you're not under arrest. you're being. >> why are you detained? for what? >> after handcuffing the man they head towards the woman. you can't touch me. >> you can't touch me. you're to get down on the ground. >> get on the ground. stop. i don't get stopped. stop! stop get punched in the face. punch me and you're going to. you're going to get sued. while trying to handcuff her deputies, use pepper spray and she accuses one deputy of putting his knee on her neck. >> get your neck off my off my. >> i can't breathe. >> my client was kneeling her shoulder blade to prevent her from shifting. you can't see exactly what the knee placement, but it's not the neck. they don't place the knee into the on the neck to cut off the airway. another view of the incident from a bystander's cell phone video shows one deputy slamming

the woman to the ground. so my client, as he's trained, takes her down to the ground. it's the safest way and the most tactful way to handcuff a suspect. >> the sheriff's department says it's investigating, saying personnel who do not uphold our training standards will be held accountable. the two suspects were accused of shoplifting. the deputies have been reassigned pending an investigation. in an activist group calling for the deputies to be fired, has planned a rally for today. rhiannon, lionel, our thanks to alison for that story. >> coming up to deadly mishaps involving july fourth fireworks. >> also ahead, new details about this roller coaster malfunction that left people hanging upside down for hours. we'll tell you why it took so long to get them down show summer who's boss with wayfair's fourth of july clearance. shop all the top grills and more up to 40% off. with smokin' fast shipping. and get wayfair deals so epic,

it'll feel like you're getting away with something. yes! so take summer into your own hands - and get extra outdoorsy with wayfair's fourth of july clearance. june 28 through july 5. ♪ wayfair you've got just what i need ♪ febreze! your bathroom... needs febreze small spaces... the always-on, odor-fighting air freshener you set and forget. no outlets used, no batteries needed, no effort required. so your bathroom stays continuously fresh for 45 days. that's the power of febreze small spaces. i brought in ensure max protein with 30g of protein. those who tried me felt more energy in just two weeks. uh... here i'll take that. -everyone: woo hoo! ensure max protein with 30 grams of protein, one gram of sugar. enter the nourishing moments giveaway for a chance to win $10,000. want your clothes to smell freshly washed all day without heavy perfumes? try downy light in-wash freshness boosters. it has long-lasting light scent, no heavy perfumes, and no dyes. finally, a light scent that lasts all day.

downy light! i'm steve, i lost 138 pounds in nine months on golo and taking release. finally, a light scent that lasts all day. since taking release, my sleep is way better. my inflammation has gone way down. i'm nonstop now, i feel way better than i did before. i don't sit down in life anymore. i've become a bit of an expert in suncare... an spf-icianado if you will. my bottle of choice? neutrogena® ultra sheer a lightweight blend that protects 6 layers deep with a smooth dry-touch finish. this round's on me. neutrogena® ultra sheer ask sherwin-williams and save big during the sweet summer sale. get 30% off paints and stains, with sale prices starting at $31.14. hurry, it's only june 30th through july 10th. shop online or at your neighborhood sherwin-williams store. online or at your neighborhood sherwin-williams store. >> welcome back. this video shows the aftermath of a deadly fire works explosion in eastern texas. one person was killed and four others were injured. the

fireworks were being prepared for a holiday event there. and near grand rapids, michigan, one person was killed in a fireworks explosion in on a residential street. >> new details this morning about another mishap on a roller coaster. first, it was a large crack found on a roller coaster support beam in north carolina. and now an investigation in wisconsin. >> this is crazy. this is just scary. >> it was a thrill. they didn't ask for eight passenger cars, including seven children suspended upside down on this roller coaster for hours at the forest county festival in wisconsin. the fireball roller coaster stuck near the top of this loop. the eight on board left dangling because of a mechanical issue. >> all of a sudden, the ambulances are showing up. the fire department showing up. >> katie clark's daughters were among those stuck on the ride. >> it's really hard to hear your kid yell your name and you can't help them. you know, they're only 11 and eight. so it's pretty scary for them. >> the rescue would take nearly three hours. part of the problem

is the ride has a single button to release all of the harnesses holding in the passengers at once. instead of one at a time. another issue for the local fire department did not have equipment capable of making the rescue and had to rely on other departments in the area to respond. >> and each of the patients had to be harnessed. you know, as well as the guys that were on the bucket out on the platform, you know, we're harnessed in with safety equipment as well. >> after nearly three hours, all passengers made it down safely. but for katie to clark's daughters, that may be the last roller coaster ride they take. >> they do not want to ride any more roller coasters. so glad they're okay. >> officials are looking into the cause of that malfunction. >> back to work today because the mega millions lottery jackpot just grew bigger. no one matched all six numbers last night. so friday's drawing grows to $427 million. meanwhile tonight's powerball is up to $546 million. >> all right. test your luck. still ahead, we're going to hear

from the golfer who is seven months pregnant and competing in a major tournament. >> plus, joey chestnut facing a different challenge at the hot different challenge at the hot dog eating contest this year i'm your overly competitive brother. check. psych! and i'm about to steal this game from you just like i stole kelly carter in high school. you got no game dude, that's a foul! and now you're ready to settle the score. game over. and if you don't have the right home insurance coverage, well, you could end up paying for all this yourself. so get allstate, and be better protected from mayhem, yeah, like me. thanks, bro. take a lap, rookie. real mature. new emergen-c crystals pop and fizz when you throw them back. and who doesn't love a good throwback? [sfx: video game sound] new emergen-c crystals. throw it back. want luxury hair repair that doesn't cost $50?

pantene's pro-vitamin formula repairs hair. as well as the leading luxury bonding treatment. for softness and resilience, without the price tag. if you know... you know it's pantene. we've seen what you would do for a klondike®, so we're raising bar. now we want to see what your hometown would do for a klondike®, so get together, and go for the bar, sandwich, or cone. go for the glory! ♪ (chef vo) fancy feast. chef-inspired. go for the glory! cat-adored. every silky broth, every impeccable paté, every delicious detail... brings you and your cat... closer together. fancy feast. love is in the details. feeling... ughh ...from a backed up gut? miralax works naturally with the water in your body to help you go. free your gut. and your mood will follow. for 8 grams of fiber, try new mirafiber gummies. bug spray works best... when your family actually wears it.

♪ get odor-free eight hour protection from mosquitoes and ticks without the ick. zevo on-body repellent. people love it. bugs hate it. local charm. so will we be near you. >> time now to check the pulse. we begin with the pro golfer teeing off for two, you guessed it. >> amy olson is seven months pregnant and she's not letting it stop her from competing in the us women's open. this week she arrived at pebble beach ready to hit the links with her baby bump on full display. she decided to stay in the tournament after getting advice from others who have played while pregnant. >> right around 30 weeks was the cut off and i saw the us open was at that point that if i qualify, it's at pebble. i'm going to try to do it. my swing changes day to day, which any

golfer knows that already happens on a daily basis. but pregnancy is like that on steroids. >> and amy's husband says he is very proud of her. speaking of pebble beach, here's a bizarre shot. yes, rose jong was practicing. >> and check out what happens next. her tee flips right into her back pocket. she is also preparing. you see it there for the us women's open. so hopefully that doesn't happen. there all right. next, a costly wrong turn for an elite runner in atlanta. >> she was about to win the peach tree road race, but she took a wrong turn just before the finish line following a police motorcycle getting off the course instead of running straight. >> she ended up in third place. that mistake costing her $7,000 in prize money. joey chestnut has done it yet again. winning the nathan's hot dog eating contest for the 16th time. incredible >> all heavy rain nearly canceled the event, but the show did eventually go on. chestnut wolfed down 62 hot dogs in ten minutes, falling ten hot dogs

short, though, of his record. >> the once and future king, the boy king who has grown to fulfill a destiny of greatness. >> look on his works, ye mighty and despair, for he has surpassed the kings of egypt. i give you the number one ranked eater in the world, joey chestnut. >> and on the women's side, miki sudo claimed her ninth title. sudo claimed her ninth title. >> congrats kayaking is my thing. running is awesome. but her moderate to severe eczema would make her skin so uncomfortable. i was always so itchy especially when i was hot. now my skin doesn't itch as much. now we're staying ahead of her eczema. there's a power inside all of us to live our passion. and dupixent works on the inside to help heal your skin from within. it helps block a key source of inflammation

inside the body that can cause eczema. so, they can have clearer skin and less itch. serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems such as eye pain or vision changes including blurred vision, joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. healing from within is a wonderful thing. ask your child's eczema specialist how dupixent can help heal their skin from within. when the murrays discovered gain scent beads, they fell in love with the irresistible scent. ♪ ♪ huh, huh, so did their dog roger. ♪ ♪ gain scent beads keep even the stinkiest stuff smelling fresh.

looking for a bladder leak pad that keeps you dry? all of the things that you're looking for in a pad, that is always discreet. look at how it absorbs all of the liquid. and locking it right on in! you feel no wetness. - oh my gosh! - totally absorbed! i got to get some always discreet! ♪ tourists tourists that turn into scientists. tourists taking photos that are analyzed by ai. so researchers can help life underwater flourish. ♪

( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) affordable design. endless possibilities. ikea.

building a better bay area moving forward >> building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. >> the one key international market that does not seem ready to come back to the city plus -- we know you did.